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Track(s) taken from CDH55085

Morpheus

composer
Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979)

Paul Coletti (viola), Leslie Howard (piano)
Recording details: September 1993
St Peter's Church, Petersham, United Kingdom
Produced by Paul Spicer
Engineered by Tryggvi Tryggvason
Release date: April 1994
Total duration: 6 minutes 0 seconds
 

Reviews

‘This anthology of 20th-century music for viola and piano was a deserved inclusion in the BBC Music Magazine's 'Top 1000' CD guide. The Scottish-born Paul Coletti is a master of his instrument, and deploys an impressive range of colours. Well partnered by the versatile Leslie Howard, he gives full Romantic expression to Rebecca Clarke's fine 1919 Sonata and Bax's dramtic Legend. And he is a convincing advocate for posthumously published rarities by Britten and Vaughan Williams, Frank Bridge's beautifully written diptych, two delightful Grainger miniatures, and two beautiful lullabies by Clarke which alone are worth Helios's modest price’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘Coletti’s cello-like tone and Leslie Howard’s sensitive accompaniment highlight the big romantic gestures of the Clarke sonata and also project the fervent nature of works such as Bax’s Legend and Frank Bridge’s irresistible Allegro appassionato’ (Classic FM Magazine)
Clarke’s first major success as a composer came during a recital at Carnegie Hall in New York in 1918 when she gave the first performance of Morpheus, which was immediately acclaimed by the critics. Women composers were almost unknown at this time, and those who were making their way were regarded with great suspicion. The manuscript of this piece was therefore signed with the pseudonym ‘Anthony Trent’. Morpheus, son of Hypnos, was the Greek god of dreams. Clarke’s music is entirely apt, with its almost French impressionism (she was deeply influenced by Debussy), its wistful and romantic aura and perfectly matched solo and accompaniment.

from notes by Paul Spicer © 1994

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